West Indies cricket teams claim glory at T20 world cup
There’ll be many a sore head in the islands over the next few days as the West Indies enjoyed double celebrations in India. The women’s team got the partying underway when they beat Australia to claim the trophy. Set a record total of 148, they passed the tally with three balls to spare.
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A few hours later, the men followed suit by seeing off England to win the crown for the second time. In a see-saw men’s final, Darren Sammy’s players seemed to have done the hard part by restricting England to a modest 155. But when the West Indies were at 11 for 3, victory seemed far away.
Though wickets fell, Marlon Samuels kept them in touch with patient and occasionally punchy batting. He was on 85 but not on strike when the final over approached. His side needed 19 off the final six balls. On strike was the bowler Carlos Brathwaite.
He hit the first ball for six. And the second. And the third. The fourth too cleared the boundary to spark wild celebrations on the West Indies bench and in the stands at Eden Park in Kolkata.
Ben Stokes, who bowled England’s final over, had conceded 24 runs. The crown had slipped from England's grasp. He was in tears.
Unrestrained joy coursed through the West Indies squad as they waved to their fans during their laps of honour.
The dramatic victory means they are the first nation to win the trophy twice since the inception of the competition in 2007.
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